Alpine Canada announced on Friday that it had to notify the FIS of the impossibility of organizing the two speed races scheduled for next November. The two tests were already uncertain since the announcement of the calendar, and for this reason the FIS placed the warning of “To confirm”.
Therese Brisson, President and CEO of Alpine Canada sent a statement announcing the cancelation of the two speed races scheduled on the days November 25 and 26, 2023,
“Unfortunately, the financial funding for the Lake Louise World Cup has been difficult for the past few years. We have worked with various stakeholders since last season to try to find solutions and despite some progress, we have run out of time to confirm the funding well in advance to organize the event for the next 2023-24 season.
We share the disappointment of our fans, and more particularly of our riders, sponsors and volunteers. We would like to thank all of our sporting and financial partners, including the governments of Alberta and Canada, as well as the incredible volunteers who have supported this event for so many years.
We remain committed to hosting a men’s sprint event in Western Canada and will focus our attention on finding solutions for the 2024-25 season and beyond.
Alpine Canada, along with our partners and stakeholders, are committed to delivering a race that excites Canadians, grows the sport and the fan base, provides an incredible experience for ski racers and fans. It’s also commercially and environmentally sustainable, while supporting a strong legacy for the sport and the community now and in the future.”
Lake Louise was the resort that traditionally opened the Speed season of the World Cup. The first Downhill of the World Cup of Skiing was organized there, this year however, it would have lost this condition, since if nothing prevents it, it will be the Zermatt-Cervinia Open Speed the one who opens this discipline this year.
Alpine Canada already had replaced traditional women’s downhills in Lake Louise the week following the men’s for a pair of women’s Giant Slalom World Cup races on December 2-3 at Mont Tremblant, Quebec. These races are confirmed.
For 42 years, Lake Louise has been the permanent site of the World Cup of Skiing
Farewell to nearly half a century of Lake Louise
In 1980 Calgary aspired to host an Olympic Games. Organizing an Alpine Skiing World Cup in Lake Louise therefore seemed a very good idea to demonstrate the capabilities of the bid. Italian Herbert Planck he won this first Downhill, followed on the podium by the Austrians Harti Weirather and Werner Grissmann. And Calgary got their award for 1988.
Since then, Lake Louise Ski Resort has become a Fixed location in the Ski World Cup schedule, not only in Downhill, but also in Super-G. He organized men’s and women’s races. While preparing for a single test is a labor-intensive project for any winter resort, tripling the ante is a daunting task.
42 years old when Lake Louise became a talisman especially for North American runners. there in 2004 Bode Miller he took his first sprint victory, which he repeated later the next day. It was also the favorite Lindsey Vonn who won no less than 17 times. Mikaela Shiffrin also earned her first downhill victory this season in Canada.
Besides the economic problems, there were also the Complications inside Banff National Park. Its leaders are having more and more problems to develop an event of this scale in the place despite the fact that it means a good economic injection. To attend the competitions as a spectator, you must first buy a park ticket if you do not want to find yourself verbalized by the Police of the natural enclosure.
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